Headstone and grave-marker.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

A. H. HOWARD. HEAD STONE AND GRAVE MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED 11313.23. 1905.

Witnes$6 I Inventor,

Attorneys UNITED g STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEADSTON E AND GRAVE-MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed February 23, 1905. Serial No. 247,070-

To all whmn it puny concern:

Be it known that I, AARON H. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saline, in the county of \Nashtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Headstone and Grave-Marker, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined graveguard and tombstone, and has for its object to provide an inexpensive, durable, and efiicient device of this character designed to be placed over the grave, so as to form a substantial protection to the same and also to form a means for identifying or marking the grave.

A further object of the invention is to reinforce one end of the grave-guard or curbing, so as to form a base or foundation for the reception of the headstone, the latter being provided with a recess or socket adapted to receive a fiagstaif or similar identifying device.

ith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined grave-guard and tombstone constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4. is a longitudinal sectional View on the line i 4 of Fig. 2 looking toward the bottom of the guard or curbing. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing the manner of anchoring the grave-guard or curbing when the latter is placed on sloping ground.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The improved device consists of a guard or curbing, preferably rectangular in shape, as shown. and constructed of cement, concrete, or other suitable plastic material molded into the desired shape, said guard being adapted to rest on the ground over the grave, so as to form a substantial protection to the same and give the grave a neat ornamental appearance.

The side walls 5 of the guard or curbing are connected by end walls 6, one of which is reinforced or thickened, as indicated at 7, to form a transverse base or foundation for the headstone 8. The headstone 8, which may be of any desired shape, is cemented or otherwise rigidly secured to the base 7, so as to form, in effect, an integral part thereof, said headstone being provided with a veneered face 9 in which may be cut a suitable inscription. Formed in the top of the headstone is a vertical opening or socket 10 for the reception of a flagstaff 11, while communicating with said opening is a transverse opening 12, adapted to receive a suitable tool for ejecting the flagstafl.

Projecting from the base of the guard or curbing is a laterally-extending flange 13, which entirely surrounds the curbing and serves to reinforce and strengthen the latter as well as to give the same an artistic appearance.

Embedded in the side walls 5 and the end wall 6 of the curbing is a substantially V- shaped reinforcing-bar 14:, the ends of which are inclined toward the center of the base 7 and embedded in the latter, as shown.

When the graves are located on the side of a hill or other sloping ground the flange 13 is dispensed with. In this case a ditch 15 is formed around the guard or curbing and the latter filled with gravel and cement, the surface of the cement being leveled off with a suitable straight-edge or trowel, so as to form a supplemental curbing 16, which incloses the guard and prevents accidental displacement of the same.

If desired, the entire headstone may be veneered and the guard or curbing formed of stone, iron, or other suitable material.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided a combined guard and tombstone admirably adapted for identifying the graves of soldiers, patriots, and similar persons and which will effectually protect the grave and give the same an ornamental appearance.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A device of the class described comprising a substantially rectangular curbing adapted "*ception of a flags'tafi'. there being an opening in the rear wall of the tombstone communi- IO eating with said socket.-

AARON H. HOWARD.

g Witnesses:

A. J. WARREN, OLIVE A. CREssY. 

